The Meridional. (Abbeville, La.) 1856-1906, 1887-08-06
a plea sor FaSG" Play.

ReUiea1, which is not a Nichols
paper, nevertheless, in the interests
Of fair play, undertakes TO correct
some false impressions sought to be
made By the enemies Of General
Nichols. II says;
Governor F. 7. Nichols, one Of
the leading candidates for governor
Of this site, is being bitterly as
sailed by a good many papers that
were f'iendIy to him four years ago.
Of course the papers that favored
Governor McEnery in 1884 are
still, with perhaps few exceptions,
on the same side.
The DaSoto Democrat has resur-
rected the charge that was made
Aainst Governor Nichols during
the last campaign. to the effect that
he snahbed of the political pris,
oners from this parish who, in 1879,
were tried in New Orleans before
The United States court, and has
recently urged it rs one Of the rea-
sons why he should not he nomina
ted. This charge was first made in
1888 by a correspondent Of the City
Item. paper Of very decided Re
publican prociivities, aud if we are.
not mistaken the correspondent re.
ferred to hIessrs. Cunningham,
Pierson. Jack and several Others
who would confirm the charge made.
At the time the Review applied to
the gentlemen above mentioned and
obtained from them statements
which most emphatica'lv denied the
charge against Governor Nichols.
which statements were published in
this paper as vel as many others
throughout the State, and We be-
lieve they were regarded by both
-the friends and foes Of Governor
NICHOLS as a crushing refuta ton OF
the charge.
The statement Of Attorney Gen
eral NJ. J. Cunningham was parii-
cularIy full and emphatic. He was
the leader iG the movement iii this
parish which resulted FIRST in the
overthrow Of the Republican party
and ihen.in the arrest and trial Of
some sixty citizens from here, and he
was the one against whom the ef,
forts OF the United States district
attorney were particularly directed.
Asa matter OF course. he was deep
~ interested in his own behalf as
well as tina; of his political and per-
sonal friends and associates who
were prosecuted with him. He had
facilities for obtaining knowledge of
the sentiments of public men in New
Orleans, aud especially Of Governor
Nlcholls, regarding himself and his
friends which few ii any others en-
Joyed. Mr.. Cunningham is hy no
means dull of comprehension, ant!
those who know him will agree that
he wonld have been quick to note
and slow to forgive any rebuff from
Governor Nichols Of himself or his
friends under snch circumstances
Mr.. Cnsningham's positive state
Incnt that Governor Nichols did noi
snub the Na,chitoehes prisoners is
wos tb infinitely more as evidence
than the vague impressions" Of a
dozen men.
There is another fact that we wisE
noted in this connection. The dele
gates from this parish to the Statt
colycHtlon in 1851, wao we've elect
Cd ty an overwhelming majority
voted unanimously for Goyerno
| Nichols. Nearly all if not quite
every one of those delegates wer,
I'among the prisoners whom, it is al
legged, Governor Nichols repulsed
when they were being tried for do
ing that which rendered his exist
ence. as governor possible. Is /
reasonable to suppose that the,
wqnld have supported him so cnthu
siastically if he had been guilty o
the cowardly and ungratefn' con
| duet with which he is charged ? Tn
citizens Of Natchitoches parish were
not then, and are not now, dead Il
the promptings of manhood ant
honor. And right here We wish It
ask our esteemed friend Of ,ll
DnSntn Danacrat if he nnnnse.